Darnold & Bridgewater Shine in Preseason Opener
For the first time in a very long time, the Jets can’t complain
about their quarterback situation.
While the assumption is that veteran incumbent Josh McCown will be
Todd Bowles’ ultimate choice to start the season opener on September 10 in
Detroit, both Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Darnold closed the gap on Friday night
in the Jets 17-0 win over the Falcons.
After McCown’s lone series went three-and-out on the Jets opening
possession, Bridgewater came in and efficiently moved the offense on a long
10-play 47-yard drive that resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass from
Bridgewater to Isiah Crowell.
On the next Jets possession, Bridgewater continued to dazzle. He hit
his old Vikings teammate Charles Johnson on a nice 23-yard go route to move the
ball to the Jets 35. Two plays later, Bridgewater connected with Neal Sterling
on a 21-yard pass completion to move into Falcons territory. From there
Bridgewater navigated the Jets to the Falcons 27, before New York settled for a
45-yard Taylor Bertolet field goal to make it 10-0.
Overall, Bridgewater was 7-of-8 for 85 yards and a touchdown. He
looked poised in the pocket and was in complete command of the offense. He
looked like the guy the Vikings once drafted in the first round of the 2014 draft
– and the Jets are very lucky to have him.
With 8:41 to go before the half, it was now Sam Darnold’s time. He
entered the field to a rousing ovation, and did not disappoint. While he looked
a little nervous as he quickly zipped his first NFL pass to Trenton Cannon for
no gain, he soon settled in and showed both excellent mobility within the
pocket, and a cannon of an arm once he released the football.
His eight-yard completion to Sterling to convert his first NFL third
down lit a charge into the crowd. Then, after a brief timeout, Darnold wisely
rolled out of trouble and escaped for a five-yard run, before sliding at the
Jets 35. At least he knows something about
sliding another former USC quarterback never learned.
By his next series, Darnold was much more relaxed. He completed his
first four passes of the drive to move the chains to the Atlanta 39, then
unloaded a bomb down the sideline to a wide open Clive Walford for an 18-yard
gain to spot the ball at the Falcons 15.
A few plays later, Darnold had his first touchdown in the corner of
the end zone to Charles Johnson. But wait! Tony Correnti’s officiating crew
called Johnson for pushing off nullifying the touchdown. It was no sweat for
Darnold. He came right back after he foul and hit Johnson again, this time from
14-yards out in the same right corner for his first official NFL touchdown.
While Darnold would remain in the game for entire night, the Jets
saw all the needed to see from the third overall pick in the first half. He was 13-of-18 for 96 yards and a score. He
looked poised, confident and relaxed.
The Jets defiantly have a quarterback competition, and for once that
is not a bad thing. The Jets have three guys they truly feel confident can go
out there and win football games.
NOTES: Trenton Cannon
meet the Dog House. Cannon had a rough night for the Jets. He muffed a punt
return and misjudged a Darnold pass on a key third down in the third quarter.
While he ran the ball ok, his mistakes were too noticeable. Buster Skrine played in the nickel and made
two tackles before exhiting with a shoulder injury, he did not return. The Jets
17-0 win over the Falcons was the first time the Jets ever shutout an opponent
at home in the preseason. They have three shutouts on the road in the preseason.
The Jets will head to the greater Washington D.C. area this week to scrimmage
with the Redskins. The two clubs will play a preseason game next Thursday.
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